Mark Murphy on retiring Favre’s number: “It’s going to be a few years”

Posted by Gregg Rosenthal on May 12, 2011, 9:16 AM EDT

AP

Packer President Mark Murphy is currently on the team’s “Tailgate Tour” to promote a season that may not happen with players he’s not supposed to talk to.

This is all allowed despite the lockout because, well, the league is just making up rules as they go along. Nothing about the lockout makes sense. If nothing else, it means Murphy and Packers players will give us material for a few posts.

“Eventually, he’ll come back into the fold. We are going to retire his number,” Murphy said Wednesday to applause from fans, according to Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press Gazette. “He deserves that for what he did as a Packer. . . . There are very few players in our history that had their number retired. He deserves it though. But it’s a very, very meaningful honor and we want to do it at a time when it’s meaningful for both him and the organization.”

First, Murphy wants emotions to cool down on both sides. And make sure Favre doesn’t pull a Favre.

“I think it’s probably going to be a few years. We want to make sure that he’s really retired first,” Murphy said.

Anything Favre related in Green Bay doesn’t mean a thing right now…sure it would be nice…at some point…we just won the Super Bowl…we have a great “team”…we have the SB MVP, Aaron Rodgers…he is the QB of the Green Bay Packers…the World Champion Green Bay Packers. No need for any Favre talk…it simply isn’t a priority right now.

Lambeau priorities are: opener vs Saints…changing the “12 time world championships” to “13” … not retiring Favres (who put the team, organization and fans through hell 3 years ago) number.

In other words, there’s still some lingering Favre vs. Rodgers or more importantly Favre vs. Front Office sentiment amongst the fan base. So, the front office wants to wait a little and let emotions settle down so tat it’s no longer an issue of Favre “vs.”, but Favre “and”.

This is an important story. Please keep us updated on any development- no matter how trvial or seemingly unimportant- no matter how long it takes. Murphy says it might be years. I know I speak for everyone who follows the NFL on PFT when I say we’re down for that. There is nothing more important or that matter more to thinking people everywhere. Thank you.

Stay Classy Packer organization– The guy lifted your sorry ass organization from the depths of playoff obscurity— And this is how you treat him?

Retire the number ASAP!

rpiotr01 says:May 12, 2011 9:59 AM

Ted Thompson’s contract runs out in another 5 years. He’s already more or less said that he’s done with being a GM after that and wants to return to college scouting. The number retirement will happen then.

rcunningham says:May 12, 2011 10:01 AM

Favre’s number NEEDS to be retired, but that is still going to be one awkward halftime event. I wonder if Favre will just do it off the field at a media event?

mick730 says:May 12, 2011 10:02 AM

The Tailgate Tour is to benefit various charities in towns all around Wisconsin; that’s why it is exempt from the lockout rule. The Packers ok’d this with the league months ago.

So your line about the league just making things up as they go is bs. You’re starting to come off as bitter and not just biased.

jazzytrav says:May 12, 2011 10:13 AM

This was exempt from the lockout rules because it’s a charity event that was planned long before the lockout. I’m not sure it would be a good idea to start canceling charity events while rich people argue about who gets more money.

ilpackerbacker says:May 12, 2011 10:14 AM

Favre deserves to have his number retired, no doubt. However, before that happens, he owes an apology to Ted Thompson for biting that hand that fed him and starting a stupid “war” and dividing the fan base for no reason, when HE chose to retire all on his own.

He also owes an apology to Mike McCarthy for disrupting training camp and turning it into a ridiculous circus, and he owes Rodgers an apology for being a total dunce and shunning him, for doing nothing other than harmlessly being drafted when Favre was 35 years old. Hello. You know, it was getting time to draft the successor. Common sense? Favre acted like a complete little idiot about it.

Good move, it is Aaron’s team and will be for the better part of the next decade and who knows, 12 may be hanging from the stadium after his career but Favre brought a Lombardi trophy home too, well deserved! We’ll never forget you Brent!

13xworldchamps says:May 12, 2011 10:21 AM

13xworldchamps says: May 11, 2011 7:52 PM

Brett Favre was a great Player. For a 5 to 6 year stretch he was the best player in football. I believe he will have his number retired before he is elected first ballot hall of Famer. I think he should sign a one day contract and retire a Green Bay Packer. It would be a great thing for him to ask and Packer management to get done. The fans will welcome him back.

That now said, Ted Thompson did the right thing. Could it been handled better, Yes. On both sides. Going to Aaron Rodgers was the right thing to do. That Decision proved correct Culminating in a Super Bowl Championship.

Favre’s gone. He retired. We ALL knew it was going to be a couple of years before he would be allowed back into the “good graces” of the Packers. What we also know is that at least once a week as fans of the NFL we will have to hear his name, for years and years to come. Brett your time is up please go away. Ride you tractor, fix your marriage and find a hobby…Just get out of the media spotlight, even if it’s just for a couple of months.

axespray says:May 12, 2011 10:36 AM

Favre also owes the Packer Fans an apology.

especially after his dumb, “1 year in Minnesota was like 10 years in Green Bay”.
or “This is the most talented team I’ve EVER been a part of.” comments.

I understand how passions can run high when discussing Brett Favre, but regardless of what anyone thinks that he may or may not have done to them personally since 2007, he deserves to have his number retired. He did too much before this to think anything else. We can’t allow the actions (on both sides) of the last few years to sway our judgment of his entire career in Green Bay.

It’s been said many times before, but if he had stayed retired the first time, he’d already have his number retired, his name in the Ring of Honor, and there would probably be, at the very least, plans in the works for a statue out front next to Vince and Curly.

Favre will retire a Packer the year after Ted Thompson leaves…I honestly have a feeling that he really loved seeing his name on Sports center every day, because he really milked that time….TT gave him a deadline….he didn’t have an answer….we went with rodgers…..3 years later the packers have a super bowl ring.

I don’t think Favre owes the packer fans an apology, his last year with the vikings was funny enough for me. He really has packer nation not on his side and now everyone since the pictures have come up. Favre should give it a few years, but he just really hates TT and won’t sign back or retire his number as a packer until he’s gone

Retire the number of the guy that said “If I’m playing bad, we’re not gonna win”? That’s the biggest ‘it’s all about me’ statement I’ve ever heard in my life and he said that for years. He can take his one year fluke run for the Vikings. We don’t need em. My favorite Favre moment was when he watched Aaron Rodgers jog off the field with 7 minutes to go in the 4th quarter at the Metrodome with the Packers winning 31-3.

scudbot says:May 12, 2011 11:34 AM

Let’s wait till the ol’ gunslinger isn’t in a position to trash the Packers again. A statue? Both hands on the helmet to commemorate his last pass as a Packer, that perfect strike to Corey Webster. #4 on the chest, #336 on the back.

stellarperformance says:May 12, 2011 11:46 AM

319hike says:
May 12, 2011 10:22 AM
He retired from the NFL a Viking right?
———————————————-

We can wish, but unfortunately players don’t retire as team members in the NFL (unlike baseball.)

I’d like to see Ted schedule a #4 retirement ceremony and then cancel it, then re-schedule it, then cancel it, then re-schedule it, then cancel it, then re-schedule it, then cancel it, then re-schedule it, then cancel it ……………………………………………………………………………………….

To be fair, Favre stated that the 2009 Vikings were the most talented team he ever played for, not the 2010 Vikings. I’m pretty sure they roasted the Packers twice that year. I don’t think it’s any great feat to beat a team that was ravaged by injury and controversy and was about to fire its head coach. Of course, a few weeks earlier, the Packers needed not one but two bad calls on touchdowns to beat that same team at Lambeau.

My guess is that what Favre is most upset about these days is that Thompson was right when he made his decision. Thompson knew he wasn’t going to win a superbowl with Favre, he thought Rodgers could be the guy to do that and if he kept Favre, he would probably lose Rodgers. Green Bay fans will always respect Favre for what he did, but what Favre did was out of spite, and was proof that Thompson was right. That being said, cooler heads will prevail, hopefully, but that has to come from Favre as much as the Packers.

smoothjimmyapollo says:May 12, 2011 12:32 PM

Remember a few months ago when an unnamed player (probably Driver) said that Favre wanted to apologize to Rodgers but he didn’t want it to seem like he was trying to steal the spotlight from the Packers’ championship and he wasn’t sure if Rodgers would accept, he had a point.

Favre is kind of in a no-win place right now. If he retires as a Packer now, apologizes for hurt feelings, etc., it comes off as disingenuous – like when he said he was rooting for the Packers weeks after telling Peppers to go beat the Packers. I think the Packers wait a few years to see if Rodgers can get them another Lombardi or two. For all of the regular season records, for all of the media accolades (MVP awards, etc.), Favre only delivered one Super Bowl championship to go with a few heartbreaking close calls. If Rodgers wins a second, Favre’s legacy goes from being debatable the greatest Packer QB ever to one of the best Packer QBs ever.

Owes apologies? For what? How big of a pathetic loser do you have to be to think he needs to apologize? It’s his life and career, not yours. Just because the story didn’t play out just the way you wanted it to, doesn’t mean be needs to be sorry for anything. Man, you Packer fans are something else. I mean its one thing to be a fan, but you people are living vicariously through the team and players. You are taking words and actions personally. It’s a damn game! 3 years later and you still have hatred for the guy?! How often must it be beaten into your head that players could give a crap less about the fans? Nope, you comers act you are part of a family with the team, hence the “us and we” when talking about the team.

Jesus people, live your lives on your own, its a game, not life or death. Grow the help up!!

I’ll never understand why you Packers fans hate the guy. Hell, I grew up in Chicago hating him as a rival…but I still have a tremendous amount of respect for the decade of brilliant football he played. Yea, at the end it fell apart at the age of 82 or whatever. But, even then, he still had a good season in New York and 1 pretty damned good season in Minnesota. The wheels fell off the last year. Big deal.

The guy is still a big part of NFL history. And, for the most part, a positive part of that history.

Green Bay is building a legacy for having brilliant quarterbacks. It would be a shame for that city to shun one of their greats. (Likewise, he needs to get over it as well)

Personally, I’d trade a decade of QB uncertainty for having a legend like Favre in our history books every single day of the week.

stellarperformance says:May 12, 2011 12:50 PM

ted1sheckler says:
May 12, 2011 12:36 PM
Jesus people, live your lives on your own, its a game, not life or death. Grow the help up!!
———————————————–

Ummmm…I appreciate the advice but no, I think I’ll continue to verbally kick Favre in the nuts. Thanks anyway.

ilpackerbacker says:May 12, 2011 12:53 PM

“Rodgers owes Jan Cavanaugh an apology for being a total a$$ and ignoring her in an airport, while she’s standing 2 feet away from him, yelling his name while wearing all pink… Which one is worse???”

Yeah – the same Jan Cavanaugh who he had signed for quite a few times already. Hahaha, LOL – you Vikings fans crack me up with your bitterness. Can’t stomach the fact that Favre threw to Porter and then Rodgers is a world champion, so you come up with the lamest ways to uh, “get even” about it.

Hysterical. But yes, you go on hating Rodgers. No one gives a F what you idiot losers think. Are you still going to like, wear your purple # 4 jerseys, LOL???

phuckyouall says:May 12, 2011 12:56 PM

Funny how all you classy Pack fans hold on to what your team did to the Vikings and Brett in 2010 when that clearly wasn’t the same team that whooped your butt’s in 2009. Oh yeah and take pride in the fact that horrible calls resulted in your 2010 win in Lambeau and you “beat” a team 31-3 that gave up on their coach and had nothing to play for. If I was Favre I would give you all the big FU for being ran out of town the bad guy instead of simply being released with his choice of playing for any team. But no, your savior gods TT and McCarthy didn’t want that because they knew he could still play. Lastly making him look like the douche, but I guess Pack fans aren’t that smart and can polish that trophy Pittsburgh handed to them. Go Pack Go!

As a Packers fan, I definitely don’t need an apology of any kind from the guy. That’s ridiculous. That’s on him if he wanted to go to some watered down, terrible franchise.

mick730 says:May 12, 2011 1:09 PM

Bart Starr is the greatest QB to ever play in Green Bay. In 1966, Starr threw only three interceptions the entire year. Favre would throw that many in a quarter. Rodgers has a chance to be that guy, but not Favre.

The Ice Bowl? Can anybody really imagine Favre taking a Packer team down the field in the final few minutes of a NFL Championship game and not throwing yet another boneheaded interception? Look at all the truly miserable performances in the playoffs for this guy. The Giants, the Eagles, the Rams, Falcons, the Vikings; he blew each and every one of those games.

The year the Packers won the Super Bowl with Favre as qb, it wasn’t because of Favre.

emperorzero says:May 12, 2011 1:11 PM

The Tailgate even in Marquette raisewd about $40,000 for the Bay Cliff Camp. Thanks to the Packers organization. As far as I know, Murphy was the only front office/coach type person there. Otherwsie it was Bishop, Sitton and Flynn with former Packers Levins, Freeman and Gilbert Brown attending.

emperorzero says:May 12, 2011 1:16 PM

Farve will get his number retired, but yes, emotions on both sides need to calm down. After his alleged calls to the Lions telling them to how to beat the Packers to telling Julius Peppers to kick the Packers a$$, a lot of time needs to pass. I don’t think the Packers should give out # 4 to anyone, but I think it should be at least a good 10 years before the number is officially retired.

umrguy42 says:May 12, 2011 1:19 PM

We can wish, but unfortunately players don’t retire as team members in the NFL (unlike baseball.)

——————————————————

What? If not, why do some of these guys sign 1-day contracts so they can retire as a member of their old team where they did all the stuff that got them famous/beloved/whatever?

schemefactory says:May 12, 2011 1:45 PM

yeah, it’s gonna have to be a few tears before i personally forgive him for going to the purples. he’s going to have to say he’s sorry, and cry.

clawledge says:May 12, 2011 1:47 PM

Don’t give #4 to the punter…no need to insult Tim Masthay.

brintfatre says:May 12, 2011 1:51 PM

They should sign an old punter who played years for the Crykings, assign him #4 and then retire him, then retire that number in his name!

“I mean its one thing to be a fan, but you people are living vicariously through the team and players. You are taking words and actions personally. It’s a damn game! 3 years later and you still have hatred for the guy?”

Um, isn’t the whole idea of being a fan (taken from the word fanatic) to live vicariously through the team and players. Otherwise what’s the point? It becomes just showing up to watch people do their job – hence why the Peyton Manning “cut that meat” commercial was funny. The whole idea of being a fan is patently ridiculous, but if you think about it in those terms, it ceases to be fun.

On a side note, it is different in Green Bay. Without the Packers in that town, it is nothing more than a nice place to raise a family. It’s certainly not a tourist attraction. The Packers are a huge part of the town’s identity. Plus, with people from all over the state owning valueless certificates stating they are an owner, there is more of an investment in this team.

Favre was a lot of fun to have as a hero for the Packers. It was also a lot of fun to have him as a villain.

smoothjimmyapollo says:May 12, 2011 2:15 PM

“But no, your savior gods TT and McCarthy didn’t want that because they knew he could still play.”

Also because he still had value. If they thought that the current version of Aaron Rodgers was a better player than the current Favre, that doesn’t mean that the current Favre was not better than Tavaris Jackson. He wanted to go to a rival, why would you willingly allow your rival to get better. Plus, they packaged the 3rd round pick they received in the trade to move up in the draft to get Clay Matthews. Sometimes those 3rd round picks end up netting a team more value than one month of Randy Moss.

ilpackerbacker says:May 12, 2011 2:20 PM

“Funny how all you classy Pack fans hold on to what your team did to the Vikings and Brett in 2010 when that clearly wasn’t the same team that whooped your butt’s in 2009″.

Funny how your team sucks and my team are the world champions, LOL. Nothing was better than all the Favre ball-lickers being upset when the Packers won it without his sorry, interception-tossing ass.

Vikings beat us in 2009? Really? Did that get them a ring, LOL? You stupid fans and your bragging about meaningless regular season games. We’ll brag about winning the SB. Um, do you still have the Steelers hat and shirt that you bought to wear during the big game?

I supppose the Packers dont want to retire the number of a guy who may choose to return.

For the people saying show the man respect do you REALLY think that GB would give #4 to anyone joining the team?

smoothjimmyapollo says:May 12, 2011 3:01 PM

“I’ll never understand why you Packers fans hate the guy. ”

1. He thought he was bigger than the team and could hold the team hostage. Had he been allowed to have his way, there’s no way Rodgers resigns after his rookie contract is up and the Packers are now without a QB. Maybe we would have just drafted Christian Ponder or some other future bust of a QB.

2. During his disallowed non-retirement, he was talking to Bevell about playing for the Vikings. When he unretired, he refused to compete for the job and asked to be traded to the Vikings.

3. When he left, he said his motivation was to stick it to Ted and kick GB’s [butts].

4. While a Jet, he was calling Packer opponents to give them inside info.

5. He retired and was granted his release so he couldn’t unretire and put the Jets over the salary cap.

6. Signed with the Vikings

7. Told Packer fans that if they were “real fans” they’d understand.

8. As a Viking, he did all of the same stuff he did in GB (tackling teammates after touchdowns, carrying receivers off the field, etc.) He did all of the celebratory stuff that announcers would gush over saying, “he’s like a kid out there.” It’s a tough pill to swallows knowing it was all an act in GB.

9. Said the ’09 Vikings team (which didn’t make the Super Bowl) was the best team he had ever played on.

10. As of late 2010, he was still rooting for other teams to beat the Packers.

Because of the SB victory, it’s no longer an active, intense hatred of Favre. There is, however, a passive, “eff him” feeling towards him. Favre’s legacy is important to him, which is why the Packers wait for another Rodgers ring before retiring the number. Two Rodgers rings diminishes Favre’s legacy. It doesn’t take away from anything he did, but it does take away from his perceived greatness.

ilpackerbacker says:
May 12, 2011 2:20 PM
Vikings beat us in 2009? Really? Did that get them a ring, LOL? You stupid fans and your bragging about meaningless regular season games. We’ll brag about winning the SB.
__________________

You might want to start paying attention to those regular season games. If the officials wouldn’t have given the Packers that game against the Vikings last year, they wouldn’t have even made the playoffs. You wouldn’t be bragging about much then.

8. As a Viking, he did all of the same stuff he did in GB (tackling teammates after touchdowns, carrying receivers off the field, etc.) He did all of the celebratory stuff that announcers would gush over saying, “he’s like a kid out there.” It’s a tough pill to swallows knowing it was all an act in GB.
__________________

So he celebrates touchdowns regardless of the team he plays for. That doesn’t mean it’s an act. Some people might say he likes football. I’m beginning to understand that Packer fans hate Favre because they thought he loved Green Bay and that the Green Bay fans were something special. They were hurt when they found out that he would be willing to play somewhere else, just like every other player in the league. They criticize Favre for his ego but take a look in the mirror at your own inflated sense of self-importance.

smoothjimmyapollo says:May 12, 2011 4:03 PM

@ Phantom. You’re partially right. He was the guy that said all the right things. He played the game hard. He gave the impression that he would have played it for free. He seemed genuinely grateful to have a job most of us would kill for – if only we had the talent. He was the guy we would tell our grand kids about. But it was all an act. He acted the same way with his first Jets touchdown or his first Vikings touchdown as he did when he threw a TD with guys he’d been teammates with for years. He did it so ESPN or Madden or anybody in the media would gush over him. The Jets obviously thought it was an act as he was trashed by them upon leaving. You’ll hear his former teammates tip-toe around it, but some of their comments leave the impression that they weren’t all smitten with him either. The Vikings caved to his every desire, and well, you reap what you sow.

The aw-shucks demeanor in public contrasted with his tantrums behind the scenes. Whether it was not hiring the coaches he wanted or demanding trades when they didn’t acquire Randy Moss, this was not the face of the franchise that we thought we knew. His desire to not attend training camp was not a matter of “what is there to learn” but a matter of “I’m above the team.” There’s the cheating on his wife stuff, but people in Wisconsin knew that was happening. In the end, he was like every other pro athlete, but part of what made him special was the perception that he wasn’t. Maybe it’s a matter of an inflated sense of self-importance among Packer fans, but it’s also a case of letting ourselves be naive about the whole thing.

I see there are still a lot of bitter Packer fans who hate Favre. They need to lighten up a bit. BOTH sides handled it horribly. Ted Thompson handled it about as bad as a GM could and Favre didn’t help matters with some of the things he did.

Those fans who want to keep bringing up the Greta interview might want to remember that that was in response to Ted Thompson holding a big press conference to go over a “Timeline” that had many inconsistencies. He pretty much forced Favre’s hand in finally going public (If you remember, Favre stayed quit. it was TT who went public first).

ilpackerbacker says:May 12, 2011 5:45 PM

“I see there are still a lot of bitter Packer fans who hate Favre. They need to lighten up a bit. BOTH sides handled it horribly. Ted Thompson handled it about as bad as a GM could and Favre didn’t help matters with some of the things he did.”

I don’t hate Favre at all. I definitely hate what he did. Thompson handled it bad? First of all – Favre is the one who publicly retired in March – that’s it, end of story. What was Thompson supposed to do? Favre threw a monkey-wrench into the middle of camp by changing his mind. Thompson did nothing wrong, Favre started it.

You Viking fans who need to remind everyone that we snuck into the playoffs and got handed this and that? Boo-hoo, cry us a river. They got it done, so deal with it. Bunch of whiny crybabies.

Yep, and it is not even a question, it is a fact. To his ill-fated press conference on the timeline (keep in mind, TT NEVER does press conferences) to the fact that he paid millions to an ex GWB Press Secretary, who lied to the world about WMDs, in order to orchestrate a smear campaign against Favre, to his awkward trip down to Mississippi to offer Favre his “locker” (lol, seriously?). TT needs to look at the Eagles to see how it is done right.

“First of all – Favre is the one who publicly retired in March – that’s it, end of story.”

So what. Micheal Jordan retired in June, three times! What is your point?

“Favre threw a monkey-wrench into the middle of camp by changing his mind.”

Might want to check your historical facts. Favre informed TT and MM his intentions to comeback two weeks before Camp started. i believe first contact was either during the 4th of July weekend or just before.

“Thompson did nothing wrong, Favre started it. ”

Started what? Wanting to unretire? OHH MY GOD THE HUMANITY!!!! lol

commandercornpone says:May 12, 2011 8:11 PM

they should retire his # soon. monday nov 14. make sure he is liquored up. really liquored up. yes have deanna and jen there.

and we need another “joe namath” style moment. make sure the on field halftime interview is with suzy kolber.